The evolutionary genetics of adaptation in species with separate sexes. This project aims to provide new theory and analysis methods for studying the genetic basis of female and male fitness. The project expects to provide new insights into the evolutionary, genetic and demographic mechanisms that influence evolutionary genetic diversity within populations. The project will reveal how sex differences in selection affect adaptation, and provide a framework for predicting whether populations with ....The evolutionary genetics of adaptation in species with separate sexes. This project aims to provide new theory and analysis methods for studying the genetic basis of female and male fitness. The project expects to provide new insights into the evolutionary, genetic and demographic mechanisms that influence evolutionary genetic diversity within populations. The project will reveal how sex differences in selection affect adaptation, and provide a framework for predicting whether populations with separate sexes are able to persist under changing environmental conditions. By developing a rigorous theoretical foundation for sex-specific adaptation – including genome inference methods that follow logically from the theory – the proposal will define new approaches for studying evolutionary processes in natural populations.Read moreRead less
Tracking the molecular dynamics of adaptation with horizontal gene transfer. This project aims to track the dynamics of adaptation with gene exchange by building the first experimental evolution model that can directly observe this process. The acquisition of genes from other strains and species (horizontal gene transfer) frequently underlies bacterial adaptation, but it is unknown how this occurs. This project aims to shift understanding of how microbial populations respond to environmental cha ....Tracking the molecular dynamics of adaptation with horizontal gene transfer. This project aims to track the dynamics of adaptation with gene exchange by building the first experimental evolution model that can directly observe this process. The acquisition of genes from other strains and species (horizontal gene transfer) frequently underlies bacterial adaptation, but it is unknown how this occurs. This project aims to shift understanding of how microbial populations respond to environmental challenges. There are significant benefits to be gained from understanding how microbes adapt in response to climate change and the widespread application of antibiotics, given that microbial populations form intimate associations with humans and sustain all of the world’s ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Discovering sex determining genes in a reptile with genetic and environmental sex determination. Reptile sex determination is particularly fascinating because it is triggered either by genes on sex chromosomes or by the nest temperature. This project will identify and characterise candidate sex determining genes in a model reptile to understand how genes control sexual differentiation and how they interact with temperature.
The life-course implications of declining adolescent drinking. The project aims to identify ways to ensure that recent declines in adolescent drinking are maintained and reinforced as these cohorts age into young adulthood. It expects to generate new knowledge on the trajectories of youth drinking into young adulthood. Expected outcomes include new cross-national understandings of the predictors of heavy drinking in adulthood and an updated evidence base for the development of harm prevention po ....The life-course implications of declining adolescent drinking. The project aims to identify ways to ensure that recent declines in adolescent drinking are maintained and reinforced as these cohorts age into young adulthood. It expects to generate new knowledge on the trajectories of youth drinking into young adulthood. Expected outcomes include new cross-national understandings of the predictors of heavy drinking in adulthood and an updated evidence base for the development of harm prevention policies and interventions by governments and NGOs. This should provide significant benefits to Australia via reductions in the negative health and social impacts of heavy drinking for these cohorts across their lives. Read moreRead less
How does developmental plasticity shape adaptation to environmental change? This project aims to address how animals adapt to environmental change by examining a process largely ignored in current studies: how the environment alters animal development. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of the genetics of adaptation using an innovative approach to determine how genetic variation, environmental conditions, and development interact to shape adaptation to changing environmen ....How does developmental plasticity shape adaptation to environmental change? This project aims to address how animals adapt to environmental change by examining a process largely ignored in current studies: how the environment alters animal development. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of the genetics of adaptation using an innovative approach to determine how genetic variation, environmental conditions, and development interact to shape adaptation to changing environments. Expected outcomes of this project include enhancing predictions of how species respond to climate change and building capacity for international collaborations. The intended impact of this project is to increase our understanding of how animals respond to environmental change by determining how multiple environmental cues act together to alter development, and how the genetic makeup of the individual affects these responses.Read moreRead less
Linkages between productivity and consistent behavioural traits in fish: implications for harvesting, climate impacts, and selective breeding for aquaculture. The extent to which behavior, growth and reproduction are genetically linked in fish populations is unknown, but critical for predicting the impacts of fish harvesting and climate warming, and developing fish stains for aquaculture. If strongly linked, fish harvest will always remove aggressive, large and productive fish, requiring their p ....Linkages between productivity and consistent behavioural traits in fish: implications for harvesting, climate impacts, and selective breeding for aquaculture. The extent to which behavior, growth and reproduction are genetically linked in fish populations is unknown, but critical for predicting the impacts of fish harvesting and climate warming, and developing fish stains for aquaculture. If strongly linked, fish harvest will always remove aggressive, large and productive fish, requiring their protection; in aquaculture, selecting for productive fish will also increase aggression-related injuries. If not strongly linked, we may be able to select for high productivity and low aggression in fish, or high productivity and low metabolism, thus reducing feed costs in aquaculture associated with aggressive behaviour leading to injury and infection, and reduced growth at warmer temperatures.Read moreRead less
New nonparametric statistical methods for imperfectly observed data. Statistical science today is facing the challenge of having to answer questions about data that are more complex than ever before. Some of the major difficulties are caused by the lack of direct access to quantities of interest, and the more intricate structure of the available data. Motivated by applications in areas such as cancer and genetic studies, infectious disease, environmental pollution, and public health and nutriti ....New nonparametric statistical methods for imperfectly observed data. Statistical science today is facing the challenge of having to answer questions about data that are more complex than ever before. Some of the major difficulties are caused by the lack of direct access to quantities of interest, and the more intricate structure of the available data. Motivated by applications in areas such as cancer and genetic studies, infectious disease, environmental pollution, and public health and nutrition, this project aims to develop novel and highly effective statistical methodology for solving contemporary problems involving new types of imperfectly observed data. The expected outcomes will solve frontier problems, where information can only be accessed through sophisticated computer intensive methods.Read moreRead less
Statistical Modelling in the Era of Data Science: Theory and Practice. This project aims to develop innovative statistical methodology that is interpretable, theoretically justified, and scalable to today's growing complex data. With the influx of data being collected in both the public and private sectors, making sense of this data is a fundamental task. Through a rigorous modelling framework, this project intends to facilitate the discovery of knowledge by developing powerful new tools to extr ....Statistical Modelling in the Era of Data Science: Theory and Practice. This project aims to develop innovative statistical methodology that is interpretable, theoretically justified, and scalable to today's growing complex data. With the influx of data being collected in both the public and private sectors, making sense of this data is a fundamental task. Through a rigorous modelling framework, this project intends to facilitate the discovery of knowledge by developing powerful new tools to extract insight from these complex datasets. The outcomes of this project will benefit society by providing techniques to enable research advances and inform decision-making for a broad base of disciplines, including applications to network security, energy forecasting, environmental monitoring, and public health. Read moreRead less
Reducing the burden of alcohol and other drug use in Australia. The costs of alcohol and other drug use to the Australian community are significant. This research will aim to reduce this burden by developing the evidence for effective intervention and then working with policymakers and practitioners to improve responses to alcohol and other drugs in the community.
Building social infrastructure in settings of locational disadvantage. This project will generate improved understanding the ways in which locational disadvantage influence residents’ social networks. A national study will generate an evidence-base for understanding the extent and contours of place-based social exclusion, and inform effective policies, programs and processes targeting locational disadvantage.